Emergency services had to be dispatched when Motswala shisanyama on Tsamaya Road in Mamelodi West caught fire on Friday evening.
“Firefighters found a thatched roof of the shisanyama well alight, with the fire spreading rapidly because of the windy conditions,” said Tshwane emergency services spokesperson Charles Mabaso.
They received the call-out at around 09:00 and dispatched members from the Silverton fire station, Erusmaskloof and Innesdal for back-up to combat the fire.
“A water tanker, light command unit, bush pumper, two fire trucks/engines, an ambulance and an audio-visual unit responded to the scene with a crew of 13 members,” Mabaso said.
Two attack fire hose lines were also used to fight the fire and prevent it from spreading to other buildings.
Mabaso said there were no fire hydrants close to the scene of the fire and the deployment of water tanks helped with the water supply.
Firefighters managed to put out the fire on the thatched roof even under the windy conditions. The western side of the shisanyama was destroyed by the fire and the roof was also burnt down.
Firefighters reported that no one was injured as a result of the fire and the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.
“We implore communities to be mindful of open fires near thatched-roof buildings because an ember carried by wind may easily cause a thatched roof to catch fire,” said Mabaso.
Report any fires or life-threatening emergencies on 107 or call 012 358 6300/6400.
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